Yes, we can bathe a client, provide stability during the bath or shower, help the client back out, and help him or her to get dried off and dressed.
We do everything we can to ensure that our clients receive what we consider to be unmatched value for their care dollars. We know you’ll find our rates to be very competitive – although it is our feeling that there really are no comparable services available in Barrie, Orillia, Midland, Collingwood or Muskoka. Call us toll-free at 1-877-457-9355 for our current rate schedule.
Unlike most other services, we provide an on-site, no-obligation assessment by a registered nurse. We know how difficult it is to decide on the best path when dealing with an unfamiliar situation, especially when it’s the health of a family member. You want to feel that you’ve made the most informed decision and that you’re doing what’s best.
We look at the whole picture when arranging care. The client’s health status is first and foremost, but we also asses the necessary resources that will help keep them on track. Here are just some of many questions we consider in our assessment:
Whatever we find in the assessment process, we follow through and make sure that what is supposed to happen, happens.
All our staff are supervised by a registered nurse. Our RNs have the knowledge and experience that comes from years of working with elderly clients. Our RNs understand medication and its significantly different effect on the elderly, and our assessment skills are specifically attuned to their unique situations.
In addition to regular client contact, an RN is on call 24/7 to caregivers who may find a client’s health status has changed suddenly. They’re also available 24/7 to clients and their families for urgent matters.
All our staff are supervised by a registered nurse. Our RNs have the knowledge and experience that comes from years of working with elderly clients. Our RNs understand medication and its significantly different effect on the elderly, and our assessment skills are specifically attuned to their unique situations.
In addition to regular client contact, an RN is on call 24/7 to caregivers who may find a client’s health status has changed suddenly. They’re also available 24/7 to clients and their families for urgent matters.
Our staff are hired by us and are on the Happy At Home Support Services Inc. payroll. We take care of all government remittances associated with being an employer. All our staff are covered by the Workplace Safety Insurance Board of Ontario (WSIB, also known as workers' compensation). Our goal is to make the process of having caregivers as worry-free as possible for the families we serve.
Our clients range from their early 60s right up to just over 100 years old. Most of our clients are in their 80s and 90s.
Everyone is different. Some clients only require two hours every other day for a few weeks, others need care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This depends on a number of factors: the client’s health, the client’s level of activity and expectations, and the family support or other care that is available (e.g., hospital staff, nursing home staff).
We can almost always work with the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) to come up with a scheduling solution that makes the most sense for everyone. A number of our clients have actually come to us through Community Care Access Centres.
The usual minimum number of hours for a single shift is two (in special circumstances we have done one hour a day). We provide care up to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Clients’ care needs often change during the time we are with them. Some of our clients are with us for a very short period of time, usually to help them recuperate after a fall, surgery or illness. We also have many long-term clients who have been with us for a number of years. We take full responsibility for making sure the appropriate amount of care is provided as their needs change.
For clients returning home from the hospital, we often start off providing anywhere from 8 hours to 24 hours of care per day (depending on the situation). Once everyone is settled and a routine has been established, it’s not unusual for us to actually recommend a reduction in hours of care. Our primary concern is always the well-being of our clients, not the number on the bill.
No, there is no charge for the initial assessment. One of our nurse supervisors meets with the client and usually the family. When appropriate she will also meet with the hospital team, doctor, physiotherapist, etc. to discuss care requirements and objectives. A thorough medication review is also performed.
If a client is returning home from the hospital, the nurse supervisor will usually go to the home to assess it for safety and accessibility and, where necessary, make recommendations for changes intended to help make the return home as comfortable and safe as possible.
We can almost always work around the hours provided by CCAC, in fact often we often receive referrals from CCAC case managers to create a solution for any scheduling issues.
Home-care costs vary depending on the needs of the individual, whether it’s live-in or live-out service, the duration of the visits and the experience and qualifications required to meet specific care needs. When comparing rates for home care, it is important to do so on an ‘apples to apples’ basis. Happy at Home Support Services’ rates are competitive with every home-care agency in your area which provides accredited Personal Support Workers' (PSWs) who are experienced, legally entitled to work in Canada, covered under Workers' Compensation and fully insured against liability. As well they are required to provide personal and professional references and undergo a vulnerable sector police background check.
Keeping in mind that we at Happy At Home understand that each case must be considered individually and that special circumstances are always considered, we do request a minimum of 2 hours per day.
From the initial date of assessment, service can take as little as 24 hours to commence; often we have arranged same day service for clients in crisis.
Our priority is to assist you to maintain your independence, in your environment of choice, for as long as possible....which means...we will do personal care, light housekeeping, light meal prep, caregiver relief, laundry, medication reminders, incidental transportation, companionship, personal activities, palliative care, dementia and Alzheimers care. Our Registered Nurses also provide case management, shift nursing when needed and footcare clinics.
This is always a difficult situation, one that no one should have to face. But...unfortunately we do. It is always important to remember that we must, first and foremost, show them the honour and respect they deserve as they too have lived a life time, and they must be allowed to choose. With that in mind, there are ways that we can respect their wishes, while using "gentle persuasion"...here are a few "suggestions"....
The main benefit that comes from in-home care is the ability to remain in your own home and maintain your independence.
Staying in familiar surroundings, maintaining your friendships and the lifestyle to which you have become accustomed, avoiding the stresses involved with deciding where to move and when, then having to sell your home and all the associated headaches... not to mention the actual move! These are but a few of the obvious advantages. Just maintaining the ability of rising when you want, or being able to keep your own pets and maintaining the routine you personally enjoy are also key.
Retirement residences differ enormously in what they offer. The quality of accommodation and services differs from place to place; and the cost varies accordingly. They also provide a social environment that can have positive or negative results depending on the individual. More independent seniors tend to dislike not having a meal choice and having to eat in large groups. Although many retirement residences now offer personal caregiving and nursing assistance, it is often charged as an extra at a rate considerably higher than it would be for the same help at home. Dollar for dollar, it is cheaper for you to have Happy At Home Support Services come into your home for a few hours a week to do that which you find difficult, than it is to live in a retirement home!
Should you decide that a retirement residence is the best option, Happy At Home Support Services can provide the information needed to make the best choice. Since we offer care to clients in both nursing and retirement homes, we are familiar with many of the area residences and would be happy to help!
Do you see people in the hospital and retirement homes as well as in their own homes? Yes. We often find that families want or need supplemental care for their loved ones in hospitals or retirement homes. Hospitals, much as they may like to, are often not able to provide the level of care our clients are comfortable with. We work with the hospital staff to ensure that our clients receive the level and quality of care they expect and are entitled to. Retirement homes are not usually equipped to care for clients who need significant levels of care. By providing the care required, we help clients to remain in a setting where they are comfortable.
All our staff are supervised by a registered nurse. Our RNs have the knowledge and experience that comes from years of working with elderly clients. Our RNs understand medication and its significantly different effect on the elderly, and our assessment skills are specifically attuned to their unique situations. In addition to regular client contact, an RN is on call 24/7 to caregivers who may find a client’s health status has changed suddenly. They’re also available 24/7 to clients and their families for urgent matters.
We can almost always work around the hours provided by CCAC, in fact often we often receive referrals from CCAC case managers to create a solution for any scheduling issues.
We believe that providing a care solution is about helping people feel happy, safe and comfortable. It means taking the time to match the right caregiver(s) to the client. It means ensuring that the client’s environment is as safe and comfortable as possible, their medication is appropriate, and their needs are taken care of. For the client it means that someone is listening and will respond should they have any questions or concerns. For the family, ultimately, it means peace of mind.
Sheona Kloostra, the president of Happy At Home Support Services, interviews all staff personally on site in our offices, and advises her HR team during the hiring process. All applicants have their references checked and credentials reviewed, and must have their police check in hand at the time of the interview. Most of our staff are personal support workers (PSWs) level, while many of our staff are retired nurses and other allied health professionals such as social workers. Often they are here because they enjoy the work, not because they necessarily have to work. Sheona looks for people who are genuinely interested in working with the elderly and have the qualifications to do so. She looks for individuals who are positive, confident and responsible and who understand the responsibilities associated with working with the elderly. We hire people who have a passion for seniors and may have related life experience, such as taking care of their own aging parents.
We do everything we can to ensure that our clients receive what we consider to be unmatched value for their care dollars. We know you’ll find our rates to be very competitive – although it is our feeling that there really are no comparable services available in Barrie, Orillia, Midland, Collingwood or Muskoka. Call us toll-free at 1-877-457-9355 for our current rate schedule. Unlike most other services, we provide an on-site, no-obligation assessment by a registered nurse. We know how difficult it is to decide on the best path when dealing with an unfamiliar situation, especially when it’s the health of a family member. You want to feel that you’ve made the most informed decision and that you’re doing what’s best. We look at the whole picture when arranging care. The client’s health status is first and foremost, but we also asses the necessary resources that will help keep them on track. Here are just some of many questions we consider in our assessment:
Whatever we find in the assessment process, we follow through and make sure that what is supposed to happen, happens.
